Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Are you a Social Animal?

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Are you a Social Animal?

by  on September 15, 2014 
Business Monkey In Formal Attire“David Brooks: The Social Animal” is a brief video on Ted Talks. Mr. Brooks is a NY Times columnist and he has identified characteristics of individuals that have positive social skills. Jessica Reynolds, a graduate student at Eastern Illinois University, reviewed the video.
Mr. Brooks pointed out that people trust those that are attentive and put them at ease. Brooks also noted that people with great social skills make eye contact and remember the names of those they meet, which makes others feel comfortable and valued.
Mr. Brooks stated that we can be more social by choosing to change our focus from the more tangible (e.g. material wealth) to the more intangible (e.g. relationships with others). For instance, when we are focused on one another, and not distracted, we are actually able to read facial expressions more accurately, leading to a stronger emotional connection.
What is your focus? Are you working toward good social skills or just hoping they will develop when needed? With a little practice you could be a social animal. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Further resources:
Psychology Today: What are Social Skills
*Originally posted on the Career Skillet website (Permission granted by Jill Bowers).

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